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Alexandria Ingham is a professional writer. She predominately ghost-writes in various niches, including fitness, finance and technology Everything is fully researched and well-written. Under her own name, she writes in the technology, business, history and weight loss niches

Why You Shouldn’t Feel Bad for Choosing a Job Over Freelancing

Freelancing is damn hard. Yes, it really is and anyone who tells you otherwise is downright lying. There are plenty who feel bad choosing a job over freelancing, because they’re led to believe that freelancing is so much better.

Over the last six years I’ve been through ups and downs with freelancing. I’ve hated it at times, thanks to PITA clients and nightmare months. But there are so many good times that have made me keep slogging through the crap.

But I did take a part-time job at one point. I needed to if I wanted to keep my elder daughter in nursery and save up a little money for our second daughter. At the same time, the part-time job worked in well with a blog that I wanted to take to the next level at the time.

A few months ago, a freelance writer apologized to some other writers in a group. She shared that she’d taken a staff writing job and apologized for that decision. Well, I instantly shared that she shouldn’t feel bad. For some of us, we need that job to keep the money coming in. Not everyone is cut out to be a freelance writer.

This post will partially link in with last week’s post about why working from home isn’t for you. You see, freelancing isn’t for everyone. Sure, you may love working from home but do you really love the trials and tribulations that come with freelancing?

Here’s why you shouldn’t feel bad for choosing a job over freelancing.

You Need to Do the Best for Your Family

We’re not all in a position where we can work from home and go through the ups and downs of being a freelancer. I’ve been lucky that my husband has worked full-time, and we’ve been comfortable on his wage for the last few years. Before that we had his student loan to help when we’ve really struggled.

Now that we’re on just my wage, it’s harder but I was already in the position with clients who paid on time and work that was coming in regularly. It’s paid off now. If I had to do it from scratch on just my wage, I’m not sure I could have done it.

There are single parents, those paying off high debts, and people starting from scratch. It’s not easy freelancing when you have financial worries or doubts.

So, you do the best for your family. If that means taking a part-time job, then do it!

You’ll actually find that the majority of freelance writers will advise you to keep your current job while you build up your freelancing business. This is the best advice anyone can get.

You Need to Do the Best for Your Sanity

Freelancing is an isolating job. While it’s part of the job that I love, not everyone does. I’m just one of those strange loners who prefers to chat over IM than in person!

Well, if you don’t like isolation and love the workplace chatter, then freelancing isn’t going to be that much fun. You’ll always look for a reason to get out of the house and chat to others, and you won’t end up getting as much work done.

You may relish on the idea of going into a workplace. And if that’s the case, then go for it. Don’t feel bad for choosing a job over freelancing when it’s going to help keep your sanity.

The last thing we want is for any of us to be depressed because we don’t get the social interaction we need on a daily basis.

You Need to Do the Best Financially

Freelancing isn’t that stable financially. If you’re looking to get a mortgage or a bank loan, you can find it so much harder when you’re a freelancer (whether a writer, painter, or even mechanic).

Banks will see that you don’t have a guaranteed income. You can lose a client at any point and aren’t guaranteed to pick up any extra work. Sure, they say you need two years of books to see the pattern, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to get that mortgage or loan.

This was partially a reason for me taking on a part-time job. I was fed up of not being able to get a mortgage. Things have changed now, and I’m working on proving that I can afford a mortgage on my income. Being in a new country, I need two build two years of books first again anyway!

You don’t have the financial stability that you have with a job. At least, you don’t have the assumed stability. Honestly, I view freelancing as more stable than having a job. We saw in 2008 just how many people lost their jobs without much warning, but freelancers continued to grow their incomes. I wish I was freelancing back then rather than fighting for jobs. I just didn’t know about it.

I have friends losing their jobs left, right, and center, but I keep going with the freelancing. If I lose a client, I get back to the drawing board and work my ass off to get another client. There’s always one out there.

And yes, I found in the summer that I lost a client that I was gaining $60 per day from, while another income stream had gone from $500 per week to less than $100. I soon picked up another client and picked up the income stream. I didn’t panic because I knew the work was out there somewhere.

Getting a job may be more financially stable for you. You just need to do what’s right for you right now and then start thinking about the future.

Don’t feel bad for choosing a job over freelancing. Sometimes it’s the best thing that you can do. This isn’t about what others need, but about what you and your family need. If that means a job, go for it! That doesn’t mean you have to stop freelancing. Do it on the side.

Are you struggling with freelancing? Before you go for jobs, you may need a little kick in the right direction. I can help you as a freelance writer mentor.

Alexandria Ingham is a professional writer. She predominately ghost-writes in various niches, including fitness, finance and technology Everything is fully researched and well-written. Under her own name, she writes in the technology, business, history and weight loss niches

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